Online training is available at Oxfordshire Early Years SEND Funding.
Inclusion Funding
Inclusion Funding is aimed at supporting Early Years children with low-level or emerging SEND by providing some early intervention support that will enhance the child's progress. It can be claimed by Oxfordshire providers in receipt of Early Education Funding. In Oxfordshire, it amounts to £38.50 per week during term time.
Application process for Inclusion Funding for 2, 3 and 4 year olds in receipt of Early Education Funding:
- Claims for this funding for 2, 3 and 4 year olds are made via the establishment portal.
- See Early Education Funding for more information.
Before claiming ‘Inclusion Funding’ for each child, the school or setting must have taken the following steps:
- Have identified that the child has low-level and/or emerging special educational needs using the Early Years SEND Indicators Tool, completing the information form and relevant SEND descriptors.
- Have discussed the child’s strengths and needs with the parents and explained how ‘Inclusion Funding’ will be used to support their child’s progress.
- Have written and shared an individual support plan or pupil profile with parents and relevant professionals (if involved) which clearly outlines the next steps/outcomes you are aiming to support the child to achieve.
- Have a clear process in place for monitoring the child’s progress.
- Ensure the individual support plan or pupil profile is reviewed at least 3 times a year with parents and other relevant professionals.
- Have a record in the child's file that details what the funding has been spent on and the impact for the child in terms of their well-being, learning and/or development. Inclusion funding form (docx format, 35Kb)
- For LA auditing purposes, provide evidence (if requested) that the above steps have been followed.
Application process for 9-23-month-olds in receipt of Early Education Funding
With the extended entitlements for working parents, children aged between 9 and 23 months are eligible to apply for Early Years SEND Inclusion funding.
- Within this age group, there's a considerable range of typical development, with each baby and toddler developing very much at their own pace.
- Written applications are required for SEND Inclusion funding for children under 2 years.
- Providers should email EYSENfunding@oxfordshire.gov.uk for an application form for the 9-23-month age group.
What can inclusion funding be used for?
The funding can be used flexibly e.g. to purchase additional resources, pay for staff training, or pay for targeted additional adult support. Settings and schools will need to be able to evidence that it has been used effectively to include the child in the setting and enhance their progress, well being and/or development.
Disability Access Funding (DAF)
Disability Access Fund (DAF) is available to early years providers to support children with disabilities or special educational needs. It aids access to early years places by supporting providers in making reasonable adjustments to their settings. Providers should consider what reasonable adaptations are required to ensure the child has the same equitable access to the provision as any other child.
DAF is available to children receiving funded early education as a 9-23-month, 2 or 3 and 4-year-old and in receipt of Disability Living Allowance.
To be eligible for DAF, the child must be named on their current DLA award letter (children whose siblings attract DLA but don’t themselves would not be eligible).
From April 2025, DAF funding is a non-transferable lump sum payment of £938 per year, and the parent must nominate which provider will receive the funding. For example, if you claim for DAF in spring term 2025, the earliest next claim will not be until spring term 2025, provided the child still claims early education funding.
This funding can only be used at one provider and cannot be shared. If parents share their funded hours between more than one provider, they should nominate their chosen provider to receive DAF.
Please note that four-year-olds in primary school reception classes are not eligible for DAF funding.
See forms and guidance notes for further information on how to claim this funding.
Early Years Additional Funding
Early Years Additional Funding can be applied for children aged 9 months to 4 years of age in receipt of Early Education Funding where evidence shows that the child’s needs are higher/more complex than Inclusion Funding can support.
Making an application for Early Years Additional Funding:
An individual application for Early Years Additional Funding (docx format, 89Kb) can be submitted for consideration via a secure system (Egress) to: EYSEN.Funding@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Supporting documentation must be submitted with the application. Templates and examples of these documents can be on Planning SEND support.
Please read the guidance before completing the application - Early Years Additional Funding Guidance notes (pdf format, 407Kb) to help. This funding cannot be backdated.
If agreed this additional funding will be time limited. In some situations it may be necessary to request a continuation of this extra support. This is done by completing an application for additional funding renewal form (docx format, 74Kb). It is the responsibility of the setting to be aware of when funding ceases and put in place processes in a timely way to ensure this continues if appropriate.
If the request involves any application for an increase in the agreed level of funding a new application for additional funding will need to be submitted.
Training available
How to apply for Early Years additional funding. The aim of this course is to provide information and skills to enable practitioners to feel confident about the purpose of Early Years additional funding, how to apply and how to monitor the impact for individual children.
SEND Transition Top Up Funding for Children with Special Educational Needs starting school in reception classes
Most children can be successfully provided for through SEN support. In some cases, for children with high-level special educational needs who don’t have an EHCP or where a complete understanding of the child’s long-term needs may still be emerging, additional resources may be required on top of element 1 and 2 funding to support their transition to school.
Transition funding can be agreed up to a maximum of 10 hours per week as a top up to the support given by the school for the child’s first 2 terms in a reception class.
The aim of SEND transition funding is to enable schools to provide effective support so that the child is able to settle successfully and there is time for the school to get to know the child and their family and assess their needs within the school context.
If the school then considers that ongoing high levels of support are required they will have the opportunity to link with their SEN casework officer and consider a further request for top up funding and/or an application for an Education Health and Care Needs Assessment.
Applications should be made during the transition planning phase (usually the summer term) before the child starts school so that the funding is in place for the start of the child's first term. It is not possible to apply retrospectively.
Applications must be made collaboratively by the child's current setting and the receiving school.
If there are any questions about access to this funding, email: EYSEN.Funding@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Additional top-up SEND funding for schools
For information on additional funding and EHCNA for school age pupils please see Education, Health and Care needs assessment (EHCNA) and additional funding.
Education, health and care (EHC) needs assessments and plans for Early Years children
For information on EHCNA applications for Early Years children please see Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment.